The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-10-06
wards the sick woman was harsh and

wards the sick woman was harsh and
unteeling. He told her continually
that she was better, and contradict
ed her fatty when she said she was
growing worse and weaker. I could
not help that to my excited and nerv-
ously. apprehensive mind, he seemed
Just an accomplice of Mr.. Jones-and
believe Jones in some way made 1T
worth the doctors while to help him
remove his unhappy wife from the
world where she was evidently not
| wanted.
"Mrs Jones herself did not breathe
to me word OF suspicion, though it
seems to me that Mr.. Jones took
special care that was not left alone
with her for moment. Indeed, he
was not out OF the room at allexcept-
ing once, when ne hastily went to ad-
NIT the physician; and in that minute
or two, she said-quite natural and
without any appearance OF secrecy
Il don't think the medicine the doctor
prescribes agrees with me; it seems to
make me worse every time l take it.
think will not swallow any more
OF it,
DAY after day went to see her,
she see med no better and still repeat
ed that the medicine she was taking
seemed to make her worse. And the
doctor has changed it several times,'
she said. because complained OF it,
and has given. me something else. This
which am taking to-day IS quite a
different color from that had yester-
day. but still it makes me WORSE
though he says that is all my fancy,
and that I am really better. But
am not better. cannot
even stand alone, now. my
strength has gone SO completely. /
tried this morning and fell down IN q
heap on the floor. I shall not try
again
"Wha: could do? had not even
the right OF a distant relative in the
matter. could give no reason for
the impression that possessed me-
that Mrs. Jones was being slowly and
surely poisoned by her husband and
his employee, the physician. What if
should go to the police with my ap-
prehensions? People are not arrested
on the impressions OF their nervous
neighbours; and really had no proof
whatever to substantiate my suspic.
ions. Besides, my husband contin-
ually laugh at my worry. You are
prejudiced against JONES' he said,
and you are ready to accuse him OF
any crime, without tie least reason
or proof. Don't get yourself into
trouble by limiting your suspicious to
anybody. Her friends ough: to take
her part, if anybody; you have moth
ing to do about it,
"'But you know she said her friends
had little to do with her since her
marriage. because she married against
their wishes. And they do not live
near her, and probably do not know
OF her illness. OF course, if my feeling
about it is correct, Jones will take
precious good care that they do not
get any news OF her illness until it is
to late
"But my husband would not listen
to any plan OF our interference in
the matter; and, indeed, l really did
not know how to interfere, even had
he been willing. And poor Mrs. Jones
grew worse and worse every day, SUI
tering the most wringing, cramping
pain, and nausea which seemed as
though it would rend in pieces her
poor emaciated frame, although, ex-
cepting for the doctors potions, her
stomach must have been entirely emp
ty, for she ate nothing whatever for
days, it seemed to me.
"Finally, one molning when called,
after she had had a terrible
night, saw that the end OF her tor
ture was near. Her hands were chill,
and her finger nails blue. l was sure
that she could not last the day out.
She looked at me. and seemed trying
to speak, but she had not the strength
to articulate word. Never shall
forget the CHASTITY pallor of her face,
with those dreadful purple shadows in
all the hollows, and the beseeching
look in her wild eyes, as she tried to
speak to me. did what could to
make her comfortable, but as her Eus-
band was hanging over her, unremit.
tingly attentive. Of course there was
little to do. Finally, telling him to
call me if l were needed, or if any
change occurred, went back to my
own cares, perceiving plainly that he
did not desire me to remain, although
he certainly said nothing OF the sort.
1t was merely an impression OF mine.
But am certain OF it, all the same"
'"This was about 8 O'Clock in the
morning. was not called during the
forenoon, and so supposed she remain
ed the same; and being busy, and,
moreover, certain that my presence
was not desired inMrs. Jones room,
Ibid not 90 up again.
"A little after noon-it might have
been l o'clock-I sat in my sitting
room, which opened out into the hall,
with my baby in my arms, trying to
hush him to sleep. He had been un.
usually frettul all day, not seeming
very well-he was teething-and was
specially anxious to Put him to sleep,
as | had some special work on hand
that day. l sat in q low, armless
rocker, or sewine-chair, rocking dill
gently, and singing to my baby-not
thinking, for a moment, about any
thing else in the world excepting hush
ing him to sleep. TO prove l was in
quite cheerful and every day frame
OF mind, and not in the least vision
AIRY or morbid, l will admit that l
was Singing Pop goes the WEASEL
certainly a sufficiently earthly and
commonplace air, but Charley liked
it, and was dosing off nicely. My
eyes were fixed on his face, watching
his eyes close as he sank deeper and
deeper under the spell of my ong,
when heard the door open-the door
leading out into the hall and STAIR
way. Even before fairly raised my
eyes (which OF course l did at once,
as nobody but my husband opened
the door without knocking, and I
knew he would not come till MIGHTY,
thought Now that noise will start
Charley up again Hooked up to see
who had entered the room, and to my
utter amazement, there stood Mrs
Jones, in the doorway, with her hand
on the .knob.-just in the act of enter
inr She lO0lc1 as che ,,So1 tn 100r